Plant can splitting device



PLANT CAN'SPLITTING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1940 21 Gav/flown Go/h'nsW/rNESS' I I J4. w M W44 W Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PLANT CAN SPLITTING DEVICE Application June 25, 1940, Serial No.342,371

(Cl. 302 l6) Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in shears for cutting sheet metaland other sheet materials, and the present disclosure of the inventionis a hand-operated tool for vertically splitting sheet metal cans inwhich plants have been started, permitting the cans to be readilyseparated from the earth and roots without seriously disturbing theformer or injuring the latter.

One object of the invention is to provide a tool of the class describedin which initial downward movement of a hand-actuated operating member,will snip an initial slit through the the metal of the can or the like,and downward forcing of the entire tool by means of said operatingmember, will downwardly continue said slit, it being thus possible withone hand to quickly and easily perform the desired operation. Moreover,with a tool of sufficient length, the can splitting or similar operationmay be performed without stooping.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the classdescribed which is exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet will beeflicient and desirable for all standpoints.

A still further aim is the provision of a pair of shears, regardless ofhow operated, having one set of cooperable longitudinal cutting edges,to snip an initial slit through one edge of a piece of sheet material asthe shears are closed, and another set of cooperable cutting edges forcontinuing the initial slit when said shears are pushed endwise, wherebya slit of desired length may be formed by first closing the shears andthen pushing the same endwise.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool and a vertical section of aplant can showing the tool in readiness to first snip and then splitsaid can.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the fact that theshears have been closed to perform their shipping operation by theinitial downward movement of the operating member.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the shears open and in readinessfor use.

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing the shears closed and inreadiness for downward forcing to perform a splitting operation.

The construction illustrated will be rather specifically described, withthe understanding, however, that variations may be made within the scopeof the invention as claimed.

I provide a shank 5 having shears 6 at its lower end, and upon saidshank, I mount an operating member i for vertical movement. Both theshank 5 and the operating member 1 may be of tubular form and the lattermay slidably surround the former as shown. The upper end of theoperating member I is preferably provided with a hand grip 8 to begrasped in one hand to first effect downward sliding of said operatingmember I on the shank 5 and to then force the entire tool downwardly.The downward movement of the operating member 'I on the shank 5 may belimited by any preferred stop, an example of which is shown at 9, andprovision is made whereby the downward sliding of said operating memberI to the limit dictated by said stop 9 will effect closing of the shears6. Moreover, in the present disclosure, the shears are so constructedthat the closing movement thereof will cut an initial slit in the upperend of the metal or the like being cut, and downward forcing of the toolwith respect to the metal will then downwardly continue said initialslit to form a slit of desired length.

In the preferred form of construction, the shears S embody one blade IE]suitably secured to and offset from the shank 5, and a second blade llpivoted to the blade It as shown at l2, said blade ll being providedwith an operating arm iii, the upper end of which is horizontally spacedfrom the shank 5 and operating member I. A link [4 is pivoted at itslower end to the upper end of arm l3, as shown at l5, the upper end ofsaid link being pivoted at It to the operating member 1. In the presentshowing, a clamp l1 surrounds and is secured to the operating memher I,and the link I4 is pivoted at It to said clamp. The three pivots I6, l5and I2 are so related that when the operating member 1 is downwardlyslid upon the shank 5, the link l4 swings the arm l3 outwardly, therebyclosing the movable blade I I.

The blades [0 and II are provided with longitudinal cutting edges l8 andi3 respectively, which edges are preferably, although not necessarilystraight. These edges 18 and I8 form the initial slit in the metal asthe shears are closed. The lower ends of the blades l0 and II are formedwith short cutting edges l9 and l9 respectively, which edges are atobtuse angles to the aforesaid edges l8 and IB When the blades are fullyclosed as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, these l9 and extending to the edge l8.

edges l9 and |9 cooperate in forming an inverted V-shaped cutter 2|] forcontinuing the initial slit when the tool is forced endwise. It ispreferable but not entirely essential that the blade IE! be providedwith another short cutting edge 2| at the upper end of the cutting edgeIf the blade ll be somewhat shorter .than shown, the 'two divergingedges l9 and 2| may serve as the sole cutting means for downwardlycontinuing the 10 initial slit after this slit is formed by thelongitudinal edges l8 and I8 and it will be observed that said edge 2|will pass through said initial slit as said edges l8 and l8complete'said initial slit.

An explanation of operation with respect to the invention when embodiedin the form of a plant can splitting tool, will suffice for all forms inwhich the invention may be embodied. The tool is initially placed on theedge of a can as shown in Fig. 1. Theoperating member is then sliddownwardly uponthe shank 5, causing closing of the shears Gto snip aninitial slit through theupperend of .the can wall. Continued downwardpushing on the operating member them- .forces the entire .tooldownwardly, causing the V-shaped ,cuttergZl! to continue the initialslit .downwardly, forming a slit of desired length.

When .the.tool-is again lifted, the weight of the shears and the shank 5restores the parts toeso .normal position. as. seen .in .Fig. 3.

V .I claim:

.:l..A, can splitting .tool comprising an elongated'verticallydisposedshank, relatively fixed .andpivoteddownwardly projecting shear blades.

carriedby thj1OWI'..I1dJOf said shank, said. blades .having cuttingedges .to initially snip a slit through the upper end of the can wallwhen said .bladesiare closed and to then downwardly continue thisinitial slit when the closed blades'40 are forced downwardly, .anelongatedoperating memberdisposed vertically and mountedto slidevertically on saidvertically disposed shank, and means connecting saidoperating member with the pivoted shear blade to close the .shears assaid operating member is slid downwardly on said shank, said operatingmember having .a rigid hand grip for first sliding said operating memberdownwardly on said shank to close said shears and cause themto form saidinitial slit through the can" wall, and for then forcing the operatingmember, shank and closed shears downwardly as a single unit :to causesaid closed shears to downwardly continue said initial slit, wherebythecan wall may be quickly and easily split by plac-' hi the shears astridethe upper edgeof said wall and-downwardly pushing said hand grip.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; said cutting edges comprising apair of cooperable longitudinal cutting edges disposed one on each ofsaid shear blades for snipping the initial slit through the upper end ofthe can wall, and a pair of short downwardly facing cutting edgesdisposed one on the lower end of each blade, said short downwardlyfacing cutting edges being disposed at obtuse angles to saidlongitudinal cutting edges and jointly forming a V-shaped cutter whensaid blades are closed to form the initial slit, said V-shaped cutterbeing operable,

upon downward pushing of the shears, to downwardly continue said slit.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1; said cutting edges comprising apair of cooperable longitudinal cutting edges disposed one on each ofthe shear blades for shipping the initial slit in the upper end of thecan wall, and two short downwardly diverging cutting edges on the lowerend of one blade for downwardly continuing said initial slit when the.closed shears are -downwardlypushed, one .of, said short cutting edgesextending to the .longitudinal cutting .edge of said one .blade to passthrough -the initial slit as said longitudinal edges complete saidinitial slit.

4. vIn apair of shears of the general type having" two pivotallyconnected blades and means whereby they may be opened and closed; apairof cooperable longitudinal cutting edges disposed one on each of saidblades for initiallysnipping a slit through apiece of sheet material;and a pairof short oblique cutting edges disposed one on the free end ofeach blade and jointly forming a V-shaped cutter when said blades areclosed to form the initial slit, said V-shaped cutter being operable,upon pushing the closed shears, to continue said initial slit; wherebyclosing the shears once upon the material and then pushing said shearswill enable the operator to form a slit of desired length.

5. In a pair of shears of the general type having two pivotallyconnected blades and means whereby they may be opened and closed; a pairof cooperable longitudinal cutting edges disposed one on each of saidblades for initially shipping aslit through a piece of sheet material;and two short diverging cutting edges on the end of one blade forcontinuing the initial slit when the closedshears are pushed, one ofsaid short cutting edges extending to the longitudinal edge of .said oneblade to pass through the initial slit as said longitudinal cuttingedges complete said initialslit; whereby closing the shears once uponthe material and then pushing said shears will enable the operator tocut a slit of desired length.

CALHOUN COLLINS.

